> firstly tea bags may be unhelpful - can cause further bleeding.
>   See 'A comparison of topical agents to relieve nipple pain and enhance
>   breastfeeding' Pugh et al (1996)
>

I found a couple of studies on tea bags, but not that one. In this one,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8176527&dopt=Abstract

the abstract didn't mention any problems with the tea bags. In both that
one and this one:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8826172&dopt=Abstract

what strikes me most is that good old water seems more effective than
just about anything.
Another one suggests that tea bags are mentioned as being just as
effective as water, possibly because of the water in them:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9017547&dopt=Abstract

I'm not suggesting it is a good suggestion, just that I haven't found
solid evidence to support the running-away-screaming attitude with which
many of us react to the idea of suggesting tea bags.
If anyone has found good studies supporting the use of anything besides
water or breastmilk on nipples, I'm interested. I don't have good
references on Jack Newman's nipple cream, either, and would love to have
them.
Jo-Anne Elder-Gomes, wearing her IBCLC hat today

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html